Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability as an Explanation for the Increased Risk of Stroke in Elderly Undergoing Carotid Artery Stenting

Abstract

Plaque stability decreases gradually with age. Older patients with carotid stenosis have relatively unstable plaques with low smooth muscle cell content, a high amount of large lipid cores, and more calcified plaques as compared with younger patients. The underlying vulnerable plaque composition in the elderly might be an important contributing factor to the increased risk of stroke for older patients undergoing carotid artery stenting.